Eastport's Glorious 4th of July Parade, 2011

Each year, thousands of people descend upon the small coastal city of Eastport, Maine, to celebrate Independence Day.  There are some junk vendors, and a few rides for the kids, and in the afternoon there is the parade, which is always interesting to watch.  At night, the fireworks show is spectacular, and has been rated by some national magazines as one of the top 10 in the country for 4^th of July fireworks shows.

I didn't go to the fireworks this year, but I was there for the parade, and my wife had the foresight to bring the digital camera along.  I took charge of it, and snapped a whole bunch of nice pictures of the parade.  I'd like to share just a few highlights.  (To prevent excessive load time, these photos have been reduced in size and quality).

The parade started like this:


There are always some Canadian Mounties who show up to the Independence Day Parade.  I wonder; do Maine State Troopers march in Canada Day parades?



State of the art fire protection!

There was a ship in-port, so this line of Navy seamen just kept coming!



How could it be the 4^th of July without kilts and bagpipes?  Where's me haggis?




Don't mess with the Coast Guard!




Some kids on a float all dressed up.




The Shriners always have a lot of fine attractions at the parades.



Kathryn was still asleep at this point, but she woke up a few minutes later.



The band from St. John came down to play.



There was another pack of Bagpipers right behind them, to boot!  Aye, an' if ahm not meestaken, tha's the Douglas tartan they be wearin'!

The Shriners Lobster boats.

Tea Party Float:  'Nuff Said.

Snowe removal, anyone?

Lobstah Pickahs!

More Shriners



Atlantic Clarion Steel Band



"One of these days, I'm gonna plow right into one of these crowds for the heck of it."

"Shaddup and drive the dang car!"



Richibucto Cadets
(them Canuck kids must wish they were Americans on the 4^th of July!)




Yea!  My hometown is 200 years old!

(They should have had Helen Brooks jump out of the cake!)




Go Navy!



A really enthused celebrant!

1930 Ford Woody Wagon.  They sure don't make them like they used to!

The pirates invade Eastport every September now.  As an aside, my father suggested the whole Pirate Festival thing decades before it was ever implemented, though people back then thought he was nuts.  Seems somebody thought it was a good idea, eventually!

The rampaging hordes come marching down in the wake of the parade!  Ah, survived another year!